Obituary of Mary Louise Kellner

MARY LOUISE KELLNER Mary Louise Kellner, 83, of Duluth, passed away on Aug. 5, 2016 in Marywood Assisted Living Residence. She passed peacefully with her son Paul and grandson Owen at her side. Mary was born March 25, 1933 to James and Kathrine Kelly. She grew up in Kearny, N.J., with her parents and two siblings. At an early age her abundant talents in art were evident. In High School, she received many awards for her art projects. She continued her education at the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, earning a fine arts degree. At Pratt, she made several lifelong friends, the most significant of those was Ralph Kellner, the man who would become her loving husband of 53 years. Together they built a successful graphic design business in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was an active member of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens where she became a Master Gardener and found inspiration to develop her career as a botanical painter and illustrator. Many of her works are found in reference books published by Better Homes and Gardens, Readers Digest and Time Life books. After raising their family, Ralph and Mary decided leave the city and moved to rural Pennsylvania where they built a custom engineered passive solar house with the help of their son Paul. In 2006 they moved to Duluth, and built a house on Park Point. Mary was known and loved by many. She had an understated magnetic charm that will be missed by all. Gardening was her passion, she grew spectacular gardens at her home and she volunteered her time and exceptional talents with the Park Point Garden Club. She was also a long time member of a sketch group that met every Saturday morning in downtown Duluth. Her home studio is filled with her botanical and horse paintings alongside the birds she created from driftwood she gathered from the Park Point beach. Mary was preceded in death by her father and mother; her brother, Butch; and her husband, Ralph. She is survived by her sister, Virginia; sons, Eric and Paul (Debra); and grandchildren, Lauren, Ryan, Jack, and Owen. Mary spent the final weeks of her life at Marywood Assisted Living Residence at Benedictine Health Care. The family is especially thankful for the kind and tender care she received from all of the staff. We are also thankful for the extraordinary care she received from Dr. Long and Dr. Perlov. Their skill, devotion and attention to Mary will be long and fondly remembered. MEMORIAL SERVICE: 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, with a visitation one hour prior in Peace United Church of Christ, 1111 N. 11th Ave. E.